2000 was a year in which a number of major initiatives were taken in pursuit of the Governments’ objective of maintaining farming as the backbone of a strong rural economy and the basis for a quality food industry capable of competing world-wide while enhancing the rural environment.
The CAP Rural Development Plan launched in 2000 provides for total EU and national expenditure of almost £4 billion (?.08 billion) – a 105% increase on the 1994 -1999 period and involving key measures such as the new REPS,
Early Retirement and Compensatory Allowances. These measures provide the basis for moving rural environment protection centre stage, maintaining farming in disadvantaged areas and facilitating the transfer of holdings to young farmers. The plan is fully consistent with the overall strategy for agriculture, food and rural development contained in the National Development Plan.
In addition, rural communities will benefit from other National Development Plan initiatives. The Plan provides some £6.7 billion (?.51 billion) for actions that will directly impact on rural areas and rural communities which will, of course, also benefit from planned investments in other areas such as those relating to roads, housing and health.
The Agri-Food 2010 Plan of Action, containing the response of the Government to the Agri-Food 2010 Committee report, was launched. The Plan contains over 200 individual actions which the Government will implement to develop an agri-food sector which:
• offers farm families attractive and sustainable livelihood options, thus ensuring the maintenance of the maximum number of families on the land.
• has the necessary strength and capabilities to successfully compete within the EU and third country export markets,
• is focused on meeting consumer demands, particularly for the highest standards of food safety,
• values our rural environment as the basis of thriving rural communities.
